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Desmond Armstrong: America's World Cup Pioneer

The story of the first US-born black player to represent the United States men's national football team at a World Cup and part of the squad that did the unthinkable: qualifying for Italia 90.

Desmond Armstrong was the first US-born black player to represent the United States men's national football team at a World Cup. He was part of the squad that did the unthinkable: qualifying for Italia 90 at a time when the US had no professional league and football wasn't taken seriously.

This documentary explores how he got there, the racial tensions of that era and his work as a youth academy coach in Antioch, Nashville, making the sport accessible to immigrant communities against a backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement.

1 month left to watch

28 minutes

On TV

Today23:45
BBC One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Scotland & Scotland HD

Credits

ReporterRhia Chohan
Interviewed GuestArmstrong

Broadcasts

  • Mon 6 Jul 202600:00
    BBC Three
  • Today23:45
    BBC One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Scotland & Scotland HD
  • Tomorrow00:30
    BBC One Scotland HD & Scotland only
  • Tomorrow00:45
    BBC One Northern Ireland HD & Northern Ireland only

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